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Statement re. Suspension

5 Apr 2022 07:40

RNS Number : 2919H
W Resources PLC
05 April 2022
 

 

 

 

 

 

5 April 2022

 

W Resources Plc

("W" or the "Company"

La Parrilla and Funding Update

Temporary Suspension of Trading in Ordinary Shares

W Resources Plc (AIM:WRES), the tungsten, tin and gold mining company with assets in Spain and Portugal, announces that the operating and commercial conditions in Spain at the La Parrilla mine continue to be extraordinarily challenging.

Key challenges:

· The recent Spanish truck drivers dispute has stopped delivery of critical spare parts to the La Parrilla mine and the collection of tungsten and tin concentrate shipments.

· Liquefied Natural Gas ("LNG") prices for delivery to the mine remain at highly inflated levels of up to seven times higher than the average monthly charges in 2021 and previous years.

As a result the Board has no option but to temporarily suspend production and operations at La Parrilla, due to shortage of key spare parts and the very high LNG prices that place an excessive cost burden on the mine. The Board has assessed that it is best to wait for a stabilisation in prices prior to recommencing operations. The Company is also investigating the possibility of LNG price support with its offtake partner and customers which would enable an earlier resumption of production.

The Board notes that similar shut downs have been initiated in Spain by many other small and medium sized businesses including the major steel plant operators.

During the shutdown period the Company is applying for Spanish government support under the Expediente de Regulación Temporal de Empleo ("ERTE") employment retention programme and it is confident this support will be received.

The Company's plans to reduce the dependence on LNG continue to be expedited including options for solar power and also an electricity grid connection upgrade.

Separately, the Company has also been informed that the Dirección General de Industria, Energía y Minas of Extremadura has challenged the W group's authorisations to operate. The Company will be appealing this challenge and has been advised by its lawyers that it can continue to operate pending resolution of the appeal. The Company is confident of a successful outcome.

 

Financing and Financial Position Update

The suspension of operations places significant financial pressure on the Company's subsidiary in Spain, Iberian Resources Spain ("IRS") which has very limited cash. W Resources has drawn US$2.5m from the expanded US$5.5m facility provided by one or more funds and accounts managed by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. and/or its affiliates ("BlackRock") as announced on 2 March 2022. In light of the above mentioned events, the Company is in discussions with BlackRock regarding the timing of incremental drawdowns.

In addition, the Company is currently in discussion with a supplier who has an outstanding balance of approximately €1m and is proposing a payment plan with this supplier. If this is agreed then IRS will be in a position to undertake certain operational activities which are expected to generate a similar amount for IRS.

The Company believes that utilisation of its funding facilities in full and resolution of the supplier dispute will enable the Company to continue operating for approximately three to four months in the absence of the re-commencement of mining operations at La Parrilla. However, resolution of both these is required as a matter of urgency given the effect of the suspension of mining operations and associated revenues on W's cash position.

In light of the considerable uncertainty over the timing of cashflows from its borrowing facilities and elsewhere, the Company has requested a suspension of its shares on AIM pending clarification of its financial position.

 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the retained EU law version of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (the "UK MAR") which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The information is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of the UK MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

Enquiries:

W Resources Plc

Paul Hailes

investor@wresources.com

www.wresources.com

Grant Thornton UK LLP

Colin Aaronson / Harrison Clarke / Samuel Littler

T: +44 (0) 20 7383 5100

Alternative Resource Capital / Shard Capital

Alex Wood

T:+44 (0) 207 186 9004

www.altrescap.com

Damon Heath

T:+44 (0) 207 186 9952

www.shardcapital.com

Alma PR

Justine James

M: +44 (0) 7525 324431

wres@almapr.co.uk

 

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SRSEAKLSEDDAEEA
Date   Source Headline
26th May 20227:00 amRNSCancellation - W Resources plc
25th May 202212:33 pmRNSDelisting from AIM
23rd May 20225:30 pmRNSW Resources
23rd May 20227:00 amRNSDrawdown from BlackRock Additional Loan Facility
25th Apr 20227:02 amRNSResignation of Nomad and Broker
8th Apr 202212:36 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
5th Apr 20227:40 amRNSStatement re. Suspension
5th Apr 20227:30 amRNSSuspension - W Resources Plc
18th Mar 20227:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Update
2nd Mar 20227:00 amRNSBlackRock Additional US$5.5m Loan Facility
24th Feb 20227:00 amRNSFinance Update
18th Feb 20225:30 pmRNSFinance Update
15th Feb 202211:06 amRNSSecond Price Monitoring Extn
15th Feb 202211:01 amRNSPrice Monitoring Extension
15th Feb 20228:16 amRNSProduction Report and Finance Update
31st Jan 20227:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
11th Jan 20228:01 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
5th Jan 20227:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Update and Placing for £0.83m
1st Dec 202110:45 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
15th Nov 20212:12 pmRNSPlacing to Raise £750,000
1st Nov 20217:03 amRNSRégua Awarded Mining Licence and Portugal Update
21st Oct 20217:00 amRNSQ3 2021 Production Report
11th Oct 20217:00 amRNSAppointment of Non-executive Director
11th Oct 20217:00 amRNSBoard Change and Management Update
5th Oct 20215:31 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
30th Sep 20217:00 amRNSHalf-year Report to 30 June 2021
24th Sep 20212:00 pmRNSPrice Monitoring Extension
24th Sep 20217:00 amRNSAtlas Conversion Notice & Total Voting Rights
15th Sep 20217:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Update
13th Sep 20217:00 amRNSAtlas Conversion Notice and Total Voting Rights
31st Aug 202112:00 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
27th Aug 202111:12 amRNSPDMR Shareholding and Total Voting Rights
9th Aug 20217:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Update
4th Aug 20218:35 amRNSAtlas Conversion Notice and Total Voting Rights
15th Jul 20217:19 amRNSQ2 2021 Production Report
30th Jun 202111:58 amRNSResult of AGM
30th Jun 20217:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
28th Jun 20217:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
24th Jun 202111:30 amRNSAGM Arrangements
18th Jun 202111:43 amRNSDirector Subscription and additional share issues
16th Jun 20217:00 amRNSLa Parrilla: Completion of the 500,000m3 dam
4th Jun 20217:00 amRNSFinal Results and Notice of AGM
2nd Jun 20217:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
2nd Jun 20217:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
17th May 20214:40 pmRNSSecond Price Monitoring Extn
17th May 20214:36 pmRNSPrice Monitoring Extension
17th May 20217:00 amRNSPlacing to Raise £2.5m. Total Voting Rights
10th May 20217:00 amRNSExtremadura Government Grant Received
30th Apr 20217:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
23rd Apr 20217:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Management Team and Shipments Update

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